Alex Rodriguez is perhaps the most polarizing player in baseball history…and that’s really saying something.
Arod has plenty of fans who love him – and even more who absolutely despise him.
He’s been to hell and back and has done a solid job of repairing his image and reputation.
Although some will always hate him, at least he’s come to embrace his insecurities and has developed into a likable personality. (Something once thought impossible by many.)
"I just remember him mouthing at me, ‘Throw that crap over the bleeping plate.That’s what he said to me twice.”
Bronson Arroyo
"Hey dude, we don't hit .260 hitters."
Jason Varitek
"F— you. F— you."
Alex Rodriguez pic.twitter.com/tMMZHe4MmW— Jim Koenigsberger (@Jimfrombaseball) April 6, 2024
Interestingly, Arod recently took to social media and revealed his top five favorite stadiums in all of baseball…
Top 5 Baseball Stadiums IMO…
1. Old @Yankees Stadium
2. @RedSox Fenway Park
3. @SFGiants Oracle Park
4. @Dbacks Chase Field
5. @Dodgers Stadium pic.twitter.com/djNGw4enin— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) April 3, 2024
“Number five, I’m gonna start with Dodger Stadium … For me it’s all about the Dodger Dog … Great fans. Awesome, awesome site,” he said.
Beautiful sunny day at Dodger Stadium 💙🤍🏟️ pic.twitter.com/4v7SUsGjJ1
— Mexican Rug Dealer (@DealinRugs) March 31, 2024
“Then I’m gonna go with number four, Arizona Diamondbacks … This is a newer stadium – but you can see the ball as a hitter incredibly well and they have great food in that clubhouse.”
Beautiful day at Chase Field. These kind of days are the best 🔥🫡 pic.twitter.com/nSKGbd5YpN
— DBacks Dispatch (@DbacksDispatch) April 3, 2024
“Number three – where the San Francisco Giants play … You can’t have a better place. I mean, it’s right on the water, where you overlook the water where Barry Bonds hit all those home runs … The house that Barry Bonds built. You see the ball really well and, again, great atmosphere.”
15 years ago today:
2001 ~ Barry Bonds (San Francisco #Giants) hit his 73rd home run of the season and set a new major league record pic.twitter.com/Qw3dUjRPY7
— History of Sports (@BeforeFamePics) October 7, 2016
“Number two, this one’s gonna hurt a little bit, I’m gonna go Fenway Park … Great fans, you have the monster. It feels like high school/college intimate but you still have almost 40,000 people. And smart fanbase, knowledgeable, they drive you crazy – but they are kind of the 10th man for the Boston Red Sox.”
July 24, 2004
Jason Varitek gives ARod an inside look at his catcher’s mitt
Then the mayhem begins pic.twitter.com/EoIYN2H7x4
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) July 24, 2022
“And then number one, I’m gonna go with the house that Babe Ruth built. The ‘old’ Yankee Stadium … 26 world championships with Ruth, DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson – all the great ones … And of course, the pinstripes playing in front of 55,000 people … There’s nothing like homefield advantage at the old Yankee Stadium.”
On This Date: Aaron Boone sent the Yankees to the World Series with a walk-off home run to beat the Red Sox in Game 7. pic.twitter.com/Ag1rkoymCm
— ESPN (@espn) October 16, 2018
The one thing you can’t knock Arod for is his pure, genuine love for baseball.
Unlike many superstars, Arod truly loves the sport and all of its decorated history.
During his playing days, he was well-known to watch other games before and after his own. (While “rival” Derek Jeter was known to get away from baseball entirely during his time off.)
Alex Rodriguez offers some advice to Yankee slugger Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/IaL4VgEB4K
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) April 4, 2024
Where do you stand with Arod? … Do you love him or hate him? (We know there can be no in-between.)
What are your thoughts on his list?
What are YOUR top five stadiums in all of baseball?